And you thought it couldn't happen...

The Ibis Tranny 29 Special Blend Complete 2015 Mountain Bike is a
cutting edge, versatile package that doesn’t skimp on value. Sure, it’s
hard to believe, but there’s no trickery to it, just a forward-thinking
frame built with components that are functional, rather than flashy. And
with a front triangle that borrows heavily from the Ripley, innovative
internal cable routing, and plenty of other refinements, this is a bike
that you’ll be happy to upgrade over its years of steadfast service.

The Tranny is molded as a carbon fiber monocoque in two separate
sections. At the seatstay junction, the wishbone is effectively bolted
into a double shear bracket on the back of the seat tube and is shaped
to allow a small degree of radial movement. This allows for the
chain-tensioning effect of the Slot Machine tensioning unit found just
aft of the bottom bracket. As the name implies, there is a slot that
allows the clamping hardware in the chainstays to have 15mm of fore and
aft movement, and it’s protected by a molded rubber sheath that blocks
out dirt, keeping the unit creak-free. This range of adjustment permits
tensioning of the chain when paired with a singlespeed drivetrain, which
negates the need for an eccentric bottom bracket. And if you’ve ever
pulled your hair out trying to silence a creaky EBB, you’ll appreciate
just how much of a benefit that really is. Pull the Slot Machine all the
way forward and you can run the Tranny geared with short chainstays for
razor-sharp handling in tight trails. But perhaps the Slot Machine’s
most unique benefit is that it allows the Tranny frame to be split into
two units, making it much more compact when packing for travel.
Admittedly, it’s not a surefire way to avoid airline bike fees, but
plenty of people have done so successfully by packing their Trannys in
standard-sized luggage.

For all its utility, the Ibis Tranny remains true to its race-proven
roots. The low bottom bracket keeps it planted when railing turns, while
the short chainstays enhance its responsiveness. With its unified
carbon construction, this frame is optimized for stiffness and vibration
damping. The front triangle bears some obvious similarities to the
Ripley, both in terms of aesthetics, and the supremely balanced steering
geometry. The seatstays are noticeably thin, which imparts a
comfortable flex into the rear end, while the burly chainstays and
oversized pressfit BB92 bottom bracket shell ensure crisp response under
power. The internal cable routing is exceptionally well thought out,
and should you run a more stripped-down setup, you can replace the port
covers with closed covers to clean up the look. The internal routing is
extended to stealth dropper posts as well, which should highlight that
the Tranny 29 is a decidedly new-school machine.

An X-Fusion Slide RL fork provides precise steering and 100mm of
smooth travel. The drivetrain is a 2x10 setup, with the exception being
the clutch-equipped SLX rear derailleur. Stopping comes courtesy of
Shimano Deore brakes, which have proven to be exceptionally reliable.
The cockpit is provided by Ibis to keep costs reasonable, while still
providing quality kit. And it rolls on Stan’s NoTubes Arch Rapid wheels,
wrapped in Schwalbe tires.

The 2015 Ibis Tranny 29 Special Blend Complete Mountain Bike is
available in four sizes, from Small to X-Large, and in the colors Marine
Layer and Matte Black/blue.